Julia Esparza
Daily Northwestern
Mokena, IL, United States
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Past articles by Julia:
Everything Evanston: Reflecting on gun violence in the 8th Ward
KALEN LUCIANO: From The Daily Northwestern, I’m Kalen Luciano. Welcome to another episode of Everything Evanston. This week we spoke with Daily Digital Managing Editor Christopher Vazquez about his reporting on gun violence in Evanston. Thanks for tuning in. LUCIANO: Last week, Chris shared the second episode of his documentary series Toppling the Trigger, where... → Read More
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Superintendent Paul Goren resigns
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Superintendent Paul Goren announced his resignation effective July 1. Board members and Goren “agree that this is an opportune time to transition the leadership to build on the progress made over the past five years,” according to a joint statement with board president Suni Kartha sent Friday afternoon. The board will... → Read More
At least two injured in west Evanston shootings Two shootings reported in west Evanston on Saturday
The Evanston Police Department was alerted to two shootings in west Evanston on Saturday. Police responded to reports of shots fired in the 1800 block of Darrow Avenue at about 4:45 p.m. Saturday. When officers arrived on the scene, they did not find anyone wounded but spoke to witnesses who described seeing shots fired from... → Read More
Bill requiring equitable restroom access passes state legislatures
Legislation that would ensure equitable restroom access in public spaces passed through the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday. Sponsored by State Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) and State Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Round Lake Beach), the bill would require all single-occupancy restroom facilities in public spaces to be designated as gender neutral. The bill now sits... → Read More
Democratic lawmakers aim to update reproductive health laws in Illinois
State Democratic leaders joined together Wednesday in calling for the revival of the Reproductive Health Act amid other states’ efforts to restrict access to abortion. The legislation aims to amend current Illinois reproductive health laws that impose criminal penalties for performing an abortion. Though the law – The Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 – is... → Read More
Blotter: Two separate reports of shots fired in South Evanston
A 58 year-old Evanston man reported to the Evanston Police Department on Monday night that he heard the sound of a gunshot. The man told EPD officers that he heard the sound of a shot in the 1600 block of Cleveland St., Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew said. Responding officers checked the area but did... → Read More
Council to approve police union contract, file first quarter financial report
Aldermen are set to authorize the city manager to execute an updated contract with the Fraternal Order of Police Union at Monday’s City Council meeting. The contract includes a 1 percent wage increase to go into effect December 31 this year, with a 1.5 percent increase following the next day, and two 2.25 percent increases... → Read More
Blotter: Man arrested in connection with DUI near Northwestern campus
Officers arrested a 39-year-old Chicago man Wednesday and charged him with driving under the influence. Evanston Police Department officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 500 block of Lincoln Street around 1 a.m., Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew said. When officers approached the man in the car, they smelled a strong... → Read More
City Clerk Devon Reid sues Evanston over access to FOIA information
City clerk Devon Reid filed a suit Tuesday against the city regarding his access to information as a FOIA officer. Reid was elected to his role as city clerk and FOIA officer two years ago and has been struggling to get unedited information from the city since, he told The Daily. The declaratory judgement complaint... → Read More
Blotter: Woman reports money, credit cards stolen from her car
A 46-year-old female Evanston resident reported to the Evanston Police Department on Tuesday that money, credit cards, and other items were taken from her car. The car was parked in the 1100 block of Emerson Street when someone smashed the passenger side window, taking her purse along with three credit cards and $200. The woman... → Read More
Man arrested in connection with assault, car stolen in south Evanston
Police arrested a 42-year-old Chicago man Monday afternoon in connection with assault and criminal trespass of property. Police responded to reports of a man harassing a bartender at the Bar Louie, 1520 Sherman Ave. An Evanston Police Department officer arrived at the scene and found the Chicago man intoxicated, said Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew.... → Read More
Harley Clarke supporters discuss forming coalition for preservation efforts
Supporters of Harley Clarke are taking a new approach in their efforts to save the mansion: collaboration. In the past, many groups have submitted varying proposals for what to do with the historic lakefront mansion, but failed to reach either consensus or enough monetary support. Over the past year, there has been much uncertainty as... → Read More
D202 Board swears in new members
Three newly elected Evanston Township High School/District 202 board members were officially sworn in Monday during a board meeting at Evanston Township High School. Newcomers Stephanie Teterycz and Elizabeth Rolewicz joined incumbent Monique Parsons in assuming their seats on the newly reorganized D202 board, which also includes a new student representative. The three women were... → Read More
Evanston residents participate in YWCA’s Stand Against Racism
Evanston residents stood along Ridge Avenue on Wednesday afternoon to participate in the YWCA’s Stand Against Racism event. The annual event aims to raise awareness about the institutional and structural impacts of racism. About 20 Evanston organizations participated by lining the sidewalks from the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center to the Ridgeville Park District. Tiffany... → Read More
EPD warns of arrest warrant scam using ‘spoofed’ number
The Evanston Police Department distributed a news release Monday to warn residents of an arrest warrant scam perpetrated by a “spoofed” number. As of 4 p.m. Monday, four residents had reported the scam to EPD. The residents said the person on the other end of the phone claimed to be EPD Sgt. Joe Bush and... → Read More
City Council to discuss 2018 budget increases totalling $18.6 million
Aldermen will discuss amendments to the 2018 budget to account for overspending and will consider changes to the city code during Monday’s Council meeting. Budget adjustments are needed for 11 city funds whose actual expenses were higher than their budgeted amounts, according to city documents. The funds with the largest proposed adjustments are the Debt... → Read More
Illinois politicians react to Mueller Report
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined Reps. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) in denouncing Attorney General William Barr’s defense of President Donald Trump following the release of the Mueller report. “It’s sad to see the Attorney General of the United States acting as if he were the President’s personal lawyer,” Duckworth said in a... → Read More
Chicago man arrested in connection with assault
Evanston Police Department officers arrested a 19-year-old Chicago man Monday in connection with assault. On April 9 around 1:45 p.m., EPD responded to a disturbance in a parking lot near the intersection of Darrow Avenue and Emerson Street. After interviewing the two combatants, the Chicago man and a 17-year-old Evanston boy, police determined that the... → Read More
Man wrongfully convicted of murder sues EPD, other police departments
Jesús Sánchez, who was wrongfully convicted and served over four years in prison for murder, filed a lawsuit April 10 against the Evanston Police Department and two of its officers. According to the suit, the two EPD detectives, Joe Bush and Phil Levy, used “coercion, threats, fabrication and misrepresentation” to force a false confession out... → Read More
Man arrested for unlawful use of a weapon
Police responded Monday afternoon to a report of a person waving a knife around in an alley near the 1800 block of Monroe Street. Evanston Police Department officers responded to the area and found the man based on a description provided by the caller, EPD communications coordinator Perry Polinski said. Following questioning by EPD, the... → Read More